A new study proposes three measures to improve the EU's response to illegal wildlife trade, including creating a database of all species trade and establishing regulations to prohibit the import of illegally captured specimens. The proposals aim to transform the EU into a model of environmental protection concerning wildlife trade.
Researchers at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance have made a groundbreaking discovery that establishes individual baseline values for African elephant blood cell counts, enabling earlier detection and intervention of clinical EEHV infection. This study provides a tool for elephant care facilities to improve preventive medicine and lifesa...
A study found that the avian influenza virus H5N1 has adapted to spread between birds and marine mammals, with nearly identical genome sequences detected in four sea lions, one fur seal, and a tern. The virus's ability to infect birds remains unchanged, while its transmission among marine mammals is concerning.
A new study by UMass Amherst and the Wildlife Conservation Society finds that climate change disproportionately affects older African elephants, who will have decreased chances of survival. This can lead to a ripple effect on their ecosystems and cultures, highlighting the need for coordinated management strategies at all levels.
A new study has provided critical information for improving koala care during subsequent fire seasons. Koalas affected by the Australian bushfires were found to have severe footpad burns and lung damage due to smoke inhalation, hindering their tree-climbing abilities and escape from fires.
A new method can help estimate the prevalence of disease in free-ranging wildlife by accounting for animal clustering. This approach may reduce the number of samples needed to detect a disease. The researchers focused on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in deer, which tends to cluster in family groups, making this method particularly useful.
A new study compiled over 600,000 records from US and Canadian wildlife rehabilitation centers to investigate the threats facing more than a thousand species by region, highlighting human activities such as climate change and extreme weather events
A study by Colorado State University found that redlined communities experience higher maximum noise levels, detrimental effects on urban ecosystems, and increased human health risks like hearing loss and stress. The research highlights the need for equitable planning and noise mitigation to benefit both people and wildlife.
Researchers investigated the effects of megafires on California's wildlife habitat, analyzing over 600 species. They found that high-severity fires impacted 100 species, with 16 considered conservation concern, yet some species may find refuge in unaffected habitats.
A team of scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research found that grey wolves' habitat selection changes during recolonization in Germany, moving from early-stage 'cherry-picking' to late-stage less-selective choices. This shift affects predictions of wolf distribution and expansion in the country.
The Georgetown Global Health Center has launched PHAROS, a first-of-its-kind wildlife disease database that collects records of viruses and bacteria in wild animals. The platform aims to predict pandemics like the weather by allowing scientists to share and manage their data, with the goal of making 'one health' a data-driven field.
A new five-year research project combines AI, virology, and ecology to anticipate future SARS-CoV-2 strains that could pass between animals and people. The team will use artificial intelligence to predict variants and assess risk of spillover from people to wildlife.
A new framework has been developed to guide ethical decision-making in wildlife management. The framework integrates three domains: moral theory, principle- and rule-based approaches, and virtue ethical therapy.
Researchers discovered a bacterium, Bisgaard taxon 45, responsible for the deaths of six elephants in Zimbabwe and possibly more in neighboring countries. The finding highlights infectious diseases as a threat to endangered African elephant populations.
A new U-M-led study found that lions tend to avoid human-dominated areas unless facing food scarcity and habitat fragmentation. The study suggests expanding human land use and climate change could increase human-lion conflict, threatening lion populations.
A study found that wildlife exits designed for ocelots in Texas were used by 10 mammal species, including bobcats and coyotes, to exit highways. The exits function as designed, but ongoing research aims to improve their effectiveness.
The illegal wildlife trade is a significant financial portfolio that creates state-level security and development risks. Implementing AML laws and sharing intelligence with banks can boost IWT law enforcement. Countries like Singapore, UK, and Australia are making progress in combating money laundering and IWT.
A new study by uOttawa and Trent University found that the development of Terry Fox Drive in Ottawa has led to a 70% decline in Blanding's turtle populations despite wildlife fencing and new wetlands. The researchers predict that the turtle will reach quasi-extinction threshold within the next few years.
A team of researchers led by Penn State aims to test 58 wildlife species for SARS-CoV-2 using a $4.5M USDA grant. The goal is to monitor potential spillback to humans and understand cross-species transmission, which poses a risk to human health and agricultural systems.
Researchers are investigating unknown transmission pathways between humans and wildlife, particularly with white-tailed deer, to predict the risk of spillover. The project aims to integrate these pathways into a modeling framework to mitigate zoonotic disease spread.
Researchers analyzed data from 31 studies and found that cattle face a higher risk of getting tuberculosis from wildlife through indirect interactions. Indirect interaction rates were 154 times higher than direct interaction rates.
Research found that increased biodiversity can either help or hinder disease outbreaks in wildlife, depending on environmental conditions. Environmental pollutants like road salt changed the susceptibility of amphibian species to parasites, with higher biodiversity communities experiencing a dilution effect when exposed to pollutants.
QUT researchers have created a booster vaccine using implant technology to protect wild koalas from Chlamydia disease. The new device allows for in-the-field vaccination without recapturing the animals, reducing human interference and increasing vaccination efficiency.
A vaccination campaign in Cambodia has successfully protected endangered wild cattle from lumpy skin disease (LSD), a highly contagious viral disease. The campaign, launched in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society, has vaccinated over 20,000 domestic cattle and water buffalo to prevent the spread of LSD to wild ruminants.
The war in Ukraine has severe consequences for urban wildlife, with 45.1% of Common Noctule bat wintering roosts destroyed or damaged by shelling. This led to the direct killing of approximately 7,000 bats and entrapment of thousands more.
Scientists successfully removed invasive spectacled caimans from specific areas of the Everglades, reducing competition with native alligators and crocodiles. The efforts demonstrate early detection, rapid response, and persistent removal can effectively control invasive species, with implications for other invasive species management.
Researchers warn that unsustainable wildlife trade could alter key ecological processes in biodiverse regions, leading to losses of evolutionary history. The study highlights the need for conservation resources to be directed towards tropical hotspots to prevent extinctions.
A survey of 1,000 Japanese respondents found that people's attitudes towards lethal wildlife management (LWM) were more species-specific than previously thought. Largemouth basses, crows, and wild boars were deemed most acceptable for LWM, while carp, parrots, and monkeys were considered the least acceptable. The study also revealed no...
A team of researchers used genetic and isotopic analyses to study jaguar scat in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Preserve, revealing habitat needs and conservation insights. The study demonstrates a novel approach to surveying wildlife without direct interaction.
The BioRescue project has made significant progress in creating cryopreserved northern white rhino embryos, with a recent collection yielding five new embryos. The consortium is also identifying and selecting wild southern white rhino females as potential surrogate mothers to support the breeding efforts.
A new study identifies hundreds of at-risk animal and plant species without corresponding protection from international trade. The list includes Endangered and Critically Endangered animals and plants, such as shark and ray species, palm species, and songbird species.
A recent study by Tufts Wildlife Clinic found that approximately 30% of hawks and owls were positive for exposure to neurotoxic rodenticide bromethalin. This discovery expands upon the previous research on anticoagulant rodenticides, which showed that all red-tailed hawks tested were positive for ARs.
A global study found that wildlife, including goats and coyotes, roamed freely in cities during the COVID-19 pandemic, while human activity decreased. The study tracked GPS data from 2,300 land mammals across 43 species, showing significant changes in animal behavior in response to human lockdowns.
Scientists identified habitats and simulated solutions like conservation buffers and open-bottom culverts to allow safe passage for salamanders and other wildlife. The model boosts ecological connectivity while reducing costs compared to large-scale barrier removal.
A new study published in Wildlife Society Bulletin reveals that lead exposure from hunting ammunition is sickening and killing bald eagles, making them more susceptible to other dangers. The research, funded by Morris Animal Foundation, used innovative modeling tools to demonstrate the impact of lead poisoning on eagle populations.
A nine-year experimental study found that mowing and herbicide application did not benefit sage grouse populations in central Wyoming. In fact, reducing Wyoming big sagebrush cover may negatively impact the birds' food sources and nesting sites.
A new study integrates robotics into wildlife conservation, enhancing predator deterrents through automated movement and adaptiveness. The findings demonstrate improved survival times and increased efficacy of protection against livestock predation.
A new online tool predicts the potential abundance of Black-backed Woodpeckers after fire by incorporating pyrodiversity into forest management decisions. This helps balance human and wildlife needs in post-fire landscapes.
Researchers used drones to capture images of corn fields damaged by wild pigs in Texas, finding an average loss of 3,416 kg of corn per hectare and a direct cost to producers of up to $48.24 per hectare. The damage occurred mainly in later growth stages, when corn ears were maturing.
A study from the University of East Anglia found that environmental impact assessments often fail to account for species movement between sites, leading to underestimated impacts on wildlife. The research highlights a planned airport development in Portugal that could affect over 10 times the number of Black-tailed Godwits estimated by...
A long-term study reveals that the risk of fatal collisions between vehicles and spotted hyenas in the Serengeti is influenced by road characteristics and the annual migration of large ungulate herds. Adult females are most frequently run over, likely due to their regular travel distances between dens and migrating prey herds.
A new study in Scotland reveals that stakeholders have diverse and nuanced views on potential lynx reintroduction, with disagreements over sheep farming and ecosystem management. The research highlights the need for a participatory approach to discuss the issue.
A new study by Yale University researchers suggests that protecting wildlife can significantly enhance natural carbon capture and storage. By conserving or restoring populations of nine key species, the world can collectively facilitate the additional capture of 6.41 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually.
A recent study has identified a rare strain of Toxoplasma gondii, COUG, in sea otters that caused fatal steatitis and toxoplasmosis. The strain is virulent and can rapidly kill healthy adult otters, posing a health threat to other marine wildlife and humans.
A WCS-coauthored study reveals global mountain forests are vanishing at an accelerating rate, with 78.1 million hectares lost worldwide between 2001-2018. Protected areas played a crucial role in retaining forest habitat and conserving wildlife, but other conservation strategies must be considered to safeguard mountain forests.
A study found that wildlife documentaries highlight vertebrate species, such as mammals and birds, while underrepresenting invertebrates like insects. This biased portrayal risks leaving people with an inaccurate impression of nature's state.
A new study reveals climate-driven conflicts between humans and wildlife are on the rise globally, with six continents experiencing exacerbation of these conflicts. The research identifies trends in human-wildlife conflicts linked to climate change, including altered animal habitats, resource availability, and changes in wildlife behav...
The Operation Pangolin project aims to save the world's eight pangolin species by generating data to inform conservation strategies and implementing wildlife crime prevention efforts in Central Africa. The team will use novel technology and artificial intelligence methods to address the illicit wildlife trade and prevent extinction.
A recent UK study found that participating in nature-based 'citizen science' projects improves both participants' well-being and their connection to nature. The research involved 500 volunteers who completed a range of activities, including wildlife recording, and showed increased scores in wellbeing and pro-nature behaviour.
Scientists developed an automated algorithm using machine learning to identify image content related to illegal wildlife trade in digital spaces. The method uses feature visualization and achieves high accuracy in distinguishing between natural and captive contexts.
A new DNA-collection approach allows scientists to capture genetic information from wildlife without disturbing the animals. The protocol tested on elephant dung yielded enough DNA to sequence whole genomes not only of the elephants but also of associated microbes, plants, parasites and other organisms.
Researchers studied deer and elk behavior around a wildlife tunnel, finding they were less likely to use the crossing after displaying a 'vigilant' response to passing vehicles. The study suggests designers should focus on animals' perceptions of their environment when building wildlife crossings.
A study by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research found that cheetah marking trees serve as hotspots for communication among multiple mammalian species. These trees were visited more frequently by some species, such as black-backed jackals and warthogs, suggesting they gain important information from the scent marks. In co...
A novel technique using stable isotopes can accurately determine whether wood turtles are wild-caught or captive-bred, helping combat the illegal pet trade. The method was tested on 71 turtles and achieved a success rate of over 97%, providing conservation law enforcement officials with a valuable forensic tool.
Researchers used Instagram to measure the pressures of tourism on loggerhead turtles in Zakynthos, Greece. The study found that social media can be a useful tool for conservationists to monitor wildlife viewing pressure and prevent lethal propeller injuries.
A University of Maryland study found that domestic cats in Washington D.C. have a high probability of overlapping with native wildlife, including raccoons and opossums, increasing the risk of disease transmission and harming native populations. Keeping cats indoors can significantly reduce these risks.
Climate change poses a significant threat to southwestern US reptile and amphibian populations, with limited-dispersal species facing the greatest vulnerability. The study suggests that prioritizing conservation efforts for these species may be crucial to mitigating habitat loss.
A study by the University of Washington suggests that adopting permanent daylight saving time would decrease deer-vehicle collisions due to brighter evening skies. The researchers estimate a reduction in 2.3% deer-vehicle collisions over a full year, potentially preventing 36,550 deer deaths annually.
A University of Washington-led study found that even low levels of human activity in protected areas can alter wildlife behavior. Wildlife activity dropped to zero when outdoor recreation levels reached around 40 visitors per week in Glacier Bay National Park.
A new study found that daytime pastoralist activities do not negatively affect spotted hyenas in Tanzania, contrary to previous research. The study analyzed 24 years of data from eight hyena clans and found that the hyenas' reproductive performance and physiological stress levels remained similar to those of unexposed clans.